Cushion insole and arch-support.



J. D. LEE.

CUSHION INsoLB AND ARCH SUPPORT.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1914. y

1,125, l 34. Patented Jan. 19,1915.

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APatented Jan. i9, fgih'.

Application tiled-April 23, 1914i. Seria-1 No. SSLSBO.

Togll whom 'it may concern.' v

Be it known that l, JOHN D, LEE, a citi-- zen of the United States, residing at lCleburne, in the countyv of Johnson and State 5 of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushion lnsoles and Arch-Supports, nf which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to newG and useful improvements in a combined cushion in-sole and arch support, and it 1s the object of the invention to provide a-device of this character that will form a complete interior lining for the sole of a shoe extending from toe to heel thereof, the middlev portion' of the device being -formedof an increased thickness to constitute the archs'upport It is a further object of the invention to Y provide a cushion in-sole and arch support,

which by furnishing a support for the middle' portion of the: foot as well as for the ball thereof will relieve the ball of the foot to some extent of the weight which it would otherwise carry, and will thusmaterially dezh crease 'the possibility of corns or bunions forming on the'ball-ofl the foot.

A. still further object of my invention is.-

to provide a device of the character described, which will tend to maintain a certain circulation of air when a person using .the device is walking, thus tending to maintain the feet in a more comfortable and sanitary condition. v

Finally the objectisto provide a device of the character described, that will be strong, durable, simple and efficient and comparatively inexpensive to produce. y With these and various other objects in view, my invention has` relation to certain 4o novel features of the construction and'use,

an example of which is described in the following specification, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a bottom view of my combined cushion in-sole and arch support. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. F ig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken upon the line a-a of 1. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are transverse vertical sectional views, respectively taken upon the lines c-c and ae-fi of Fig. l. A

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate similar parts in all the gures, the numerals l and 2 respectively denote a top-and Aa bottom member which together constitute my invention, said members `havlng. a shape conforming to that of the sole of ar shoe, ,and being permanently connected 1n a rigid relation preferably by some adhesive as cement. The upper member 1 is to be formed4 preferably of leather and is of the same thickness throughout. The lower member 2 constitutes the cushion portion of the device and hence will preferably be formed of sponge rubber. That portion of the member 2 which ,is intended to occupy a position beneath the ball and sole of a persons foot is perforated throughout its entire area as indicated at 3. The heel portion and middle of the member 2 have a plurality of rectangular cushions 4 formed upon their under surface, said cushions beingproduced by two' series of V-shaped groovesv in said surface intersecting each other at right angles, as indicated at 5. 'The member 2 has-a maximum/thiclmess midway between itsextremitiesand adjacent tothat lateral edge which in the use of the devicewilly come beneath the inner side of the arch of a persons foot. From this point the memberv 2 reduces gradually inthickness toward its other side and toward its extremities. By giving the device this peculiar shape, it is made to conform substantially to the natural shape of the sole of ones foot, so that the foot may rest upon the device comfortably and securely. The portion of the weight ordinarily transmitted to the sole of a shoe through the ball of a persons foot will in the use of my device be carried by the 'portion thereof having the greatest thickness, so that the ball of the foot being relieved of a portion of its weight will be less subj ectto corns or .bunions ln order that air may circulate vertically to some extent through the device, a plurality of small orices 6 are formed in the member l, some of these orifices beingv alined with certain of the perforations 3, and others being extended through the member 2 into communication with certain of the grooves 5.

vWhen' a person using a pair of my improved in-soles in his shoes is walking, the' cushions are compressed each time they are subjected to the weight of a persons foot, and when the foot is again raised, said cushions will expand. 'lhis alternate compression and expansion of the cushions 4 will tend to maintain a circulation of air'back and forth through the apertures 3 and 6, and this ventilation will be beneficial both l Oll from the View point of sanitation and comfort. -'llhe cushion eiiect aEorded by the use of my device will give elasticity to the walk, counteract the eect of the hard pavement, and materially add to the comfort of a pedestrian.

llt'is to be observed that a transversely elongated strip 7 which is embodied in the member 2 .between its perforated and its -grooved portion has a considerable thicl.

ness, this strip being of importance since the portion of the Weight ordinarily upheld by the ball of the foot will in thce use of my invention come upon said strip.

rlhe invention is presented as including all such modifications and changes as properly come within the scope of the device as claimed.

What ll claim is:

1. A. cushion in-sole and arch support, comprising rigidly connected upper and lower members conforming to the shape of the sole of a shoe, the lower member being formed of sponge rubber, its forward portion being perforated, and its rear and intermediate portions being formed upon the underside with a plurality `of rectangular cushions.

2. A cushion in-sole and arch support comprising rigidly connected vupper and lower members conforming tothe shape of the sole of a shoe, and the upper member being perforated, the lower member having apercomprising rigidly connected upper and lower members, conforming to the shape of the` sole' of a slfoe, the upper member having apertures, the lower member being formed of rubber and having a varying thickness,

the greatest thickness being midway between its ends and adjacent to one side., from which point it reduces gradually in thickness toward the other side and toward both ends, said lower member being perforated in its front portion, and having its rear portion formed upon its under surface with a plurality of cushions, certain apertures in the upper member being alined with certain of the perforations in the lower member.

ln testimony whereofll have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two `subscribing witnesses..

l JUHN D. LEE. Witnesses g,

H. L. lPownnr., il. lli.. llnncn. 

